Steam-pipe coupling



(No Model.) 2 Shets- She et 1. r

v P. HANSON. I

STEAM PIPE COUPLING.

No. 404.786. Patented June 4, 1889.

witnesses F Inventor (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2.

F. HANSON. STEAM PIPE COUPLING.

No.'404, 786. Patented June 4, 1889.

witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREEMAN HANSON, OF'HOLLIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES B. HARMON, OFBIDDEFORD, MAINE.

STEAM-PIPE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,786, dated June 4;,1889.

Application filed January '7, 1888. $erial No. 266,253. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREEMAN HANSON, residingat Hollis, in the county of York and State of Maine, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Pipe Couplings; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will en able others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Figure 1 shows a side view of my newlyorganized coupling for unitingsections of steam-heating pipes. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section in thevertical plane of the line a; a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional detailin same plane of one-half of the coupling, considerably enlarged, tofully illustrate the construction. Figs. 4 and 5 are top and bottomplans, respectively, of a valve. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of thevalve in the plane of the line '3; y of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail of astop-cock for regulating the passage of steam through the coupling.

In the several figures of the drawings the same reference-letters pointout corresponding parts.

This invention has relation to improve ments in couplings forsteam-heating pipes and the like, and it has been designed with specialreference to the furnishing of a new and improved coupling for bringinginto union the ends of sections of steam-heating pipes onrailroad-coaches, which shall be simple in construction, easy ofoperation, and in every Way well calculated to thoroughly perform thework for which it has been designed.

To this end the invention consists of the arrangements, combinations,and constructions of the various mechanical parts hereinafterspecifically set out, while such as are believed to be new are pointedout in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent standing parts provided attheir ends with corrugations b or other convenient means for connectingthe part A to the end of a hose. The standing parts are designed to bepermanently connected with the steam-piping. Each part A has a bore 0running from end to end. They are also provided at their ends withscrew-threading to facilitate union Withcertain valve-cylinders to behereinafter set out.

D D represent stop-cocks fitting into proper chambers c at or near thecenters of the parts A. Each stop-cock D' is pierced by an orifice f,corresponding as near as possible to the dimensions of the bore 0, whichpermits the free passage through of steam and the like until the valveis closed against such passage by giving it a quarter-turn by means. ofthe lever or handle g, attached to the proj ecting stem h. At its lowerend the plug ofthe stop-cock D is provided with a supplementary orificef, opening into the bore 0, and extending thence to and through thebottom of the plug. The orifice f is designed for the purpose ofdraining away from the bore C any accumulation of fluidsuch as condensedsteam-or for letting off steam. The orifices f and f are relatively atright angles to each other. WVhen the plug of the stop cook or valve Dis so placed with reference to the part A that the orifice f correspondswith the bore 0, the orifice f is closed. 'WVhen the plug is closedagainst the passage of steam, the orifice f opens directly into the bore0, and permits any accumulation of fluid to drain away.

H H are what I call valve-cylinders, be-

cause they contain and carry certain stopvalves for controlling thepassage of steam through the coupling. These cylinders are provided atone end with internal screwthreading to engage with the ex ernalscrewthreading on the ends of the standing parts A. The opposite end ofeach cylinder has a square face pierced by a central orifice 0. Betweenthe central orifice and the outer periphery of the cylinder is anannular groove to receive and hold a rubber packing R. 011 the insidethere is a projecting rim 19, completely surrounding the opening 0. Ator about the central point the chamber or bore of the cylinder changesits diameter for the purpose of providing a shoulder 8.

Within the cylinders H H are placed stop valves, constructed as shown inFigs. 4, 5, and 6 of the details-namely, having a central spindle j,surrounded near its central point by a beveled collar 7:, from theperiphery of which project radial arms m. The base of each collar 7.: isprovided with an annular rim q, just corresponding to the diameter ofthe rim 1), against which it is to fit. \Vhen a stepvalve is in its trueposition in the cylinder, the arms on project to and closely fit againstthe interior wall of the cylinder, so that the valve is possessed of asliding motion back and forth between the limits of contact of the armson with the shoulder s and the rim q with the rim 2). Between the pointsof the arms m it is obvious there will be open places, the function ofwhich will be explained later. To keep the stop-valve well centered, therear end finds a convenient seat in a cross-piece I, set in the standingpart A acr ss the bore C.

U is a spiral springsurrounding the central spindlej between thecross-piece 2' and the top face of the beveled collar 7s. The spring Uis for the purpose of actuating the valve to accomplish automaticclosing.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows the coupling in full union. Referring tothis figure, it will be seen that the squared faces of the valvecylinders II II are in close contact. The operation of bringing theparts to the position indicated is as follows: Assuming the cylinders H.ll firmly attached to the ends of sections of steam-heating pipesthrough the medium of the standing parts A A and their connections, theoperator takes a valve-cylinder in each hand and places the squared endsin contact, care being observed to put the ends of the spindles j inexact correspondence. Pressure is then exerted until the rubber packingR R comes into contact. For look ing the cylinders firmly together, soas to form a steam-tight joint, I have inaugurated the following systemof invention: Each cylinder has 011 its outer periphery a projectinginclined plane V, and on the side opposite said plane V each cylinder isfurther provided with projecting ears or lugs \V, to which are pivotally connected latching-rods Y, with angular indentations a,coinciding in general form with the projecting inclined planes V. b bare other lugs, respectively at the end of each part, to which arepivoted cam-levers L, provided at or about their pivoting-point withside cams E, which are to receive and engage with projecting lips Z atthe extremities of the latching-rods Y. It will be observed that eachlatching-rod is so arranged that its angularindentation a shall engagewith the inclined plane V, set in the periphery of the cylinder lIopposite to the cylinder to which the rod is pivoted. As soon as thesquared faces are in contact the operator forces the angularindentations a over the inclined planes V so far as hand-pressure willpermit. This effort by reason of the overlappin of the latching-rodsobviously tends to draw the squared ends of the valve-cylinders closelytogether. To make this contact certain and ei'iect a perfect steam-tightunion,

additional pressure of a mechanical nature is necessary. This theoperator attains by turning the cam-lever L, catching the lip Z underthe rounded point 0 of the cam E, and throwing the lever over andagainst the lip of the latch, and forcing the indentation a well overthe incline V till the latch shall rest upon the cylinders with thecam-lever fiat upon it, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. WVhen both latchesare thus locked, the union be tween the parts is a steam-tight one, andwill so remain without danger of being broken till the latches arereleased by reversing the levers, catching the lips Z under the cams Eat the points d and tripping the latches.

Having thus fully elaborated the mechanical construction of myinvention, I will now take up the discussion of its application anduses.

As hereinbefore set out, the object of this invention is to furnish amechanical means for coupling together such lengths of pipes or hose asare commonly employed in a scheme of heating railway-coaches by steam.In applying it to the successful performance of its objects my design isthat a standing part A, with its connected valve-cylinder ll, shallremain constant on the pipes at each end of a coach, so that when thetrain is made up a speedy connection can be made from coach to coach, asabove specified.

The use a'hd practice of my invention are very simple. To illustrate,let a railwaytrain equipped for steam heating be provided with mycoupling. The steam enters the first standing part- A, passes throughthe bore of the same (and the perforated stopcock plug) into the chamberwithin the connected valve-cylinder II, through the open spaces betweenthe radial arm m, and thence by way of the ports 0 0 into the oppositevalve-cylinder H, then around the beveled collar between the arms m,through the chamher and standing part, and continues circulating throughthe pipes to the next coupling, and so on in turn till the steam iscarried the length of the train.

The advantages of my invention are many. The passage of the steamthrough the pipes can be arrested any point by means of the stop-cock D,and" any accumulation of fluid resulting from condensation, &c., can beeasily disposed of by bringing the orifice f into the line of the bore0. The same operation constitutes the orifice f a convenient means forexpelling air or letting 01f steam. Further, no especial appliancerequired to close or cover the port 0 in the half of the couplingattached to the rear end of the last car in the train. That office isperformed by the recoil of the spiral springU, which thrusts the annularrim g on the base of the collar is hard against the rim 1), surroundingthe port 0. It is obvious, too, that the pressure of steam against theface of the collar 7i; will re-enforce the pressure of the sprin g.Again,

by my invention coaches can be uncoupled and coupled when under a fullpressure of steam. The operator can give the stop-cock plugs aquarter-turn, shut off the steam, and then manipulate the couplings ashe may desire without subjecting himself to any danger from escapingsteam.

WVha-t I claim as my invention, and desire to make secure to myself byLetters Patent, 1s

1. In a pipe-coupling, the cylinders H H, each screw-threaded at itsouter end and connected thereby with the part A, and each having onopposite sides projecting lug W and latching-rod Y, hinged thereto, andan inclined plane V, and lugs bv and cam-lever L, pivoted thereto,substantially as described.

2. In a pipe-coupling, the two cylinders H H, each screw-threaded at theend and provided with locking-latches and levers, as described, forsecuring them together and internally with stop 8 and rim p, and movablywithin it a spring-actuated central valve-stem j, centrally surroundedby the beveled collar is,

having radial arms 1% and the rim q, and centered in cross-piece t,substantially as described.

3. In a pipe-coupling, the combination of the part A, screw-threaded, asdescribed, at

each end, and having the cock or valve D, with the cylinder H,screw-threaded at one end to engage with the part A, and having withinit a spring-actuated valve and externally on one side an incline and acam-lever and on the other side a latching-rod, substantially asdescribed.

4. A pipe-coupling each part of which is composed of the followingelements, viz: a screw-threaded end for attachment to the pipe,adrip-valve in said end, a cylinder connected with said end byscrew-threads and having externally means for looking it to the oppositepart, said means consisting of an incline and cam-lever on one side andon the opposite side a latching-rod and internally a centralspring-actuated stop-valve adapted to be opened when the two parts ofthe coupling are united, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have affixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREEMAN HANSON.

WVitnesses:

FRED O. RoLLINs, HERBERT G. BRIGGS.

